The most common problem
which is found in the present scenario is constipation.
Normal bowel movements may vary from 1 per day to
3 per week. When a person has infrequent or hard stools
or has to exert considerable effort while passing
stool, they may be said to have constipation.

Nowadays, especially children and the older age groups
are more prone to this condition though it is also
found in the other age groups. And this is a condition
many generally tend to ignore or self-medicate by
some handy measures. Most of the time people do tend
to say that they are “used to” it from
a long time.
It is important to treat this condition to prevent
complications like piles and fissures.

Symptoms:
• Hard stools and straining to pass stools
• Stools passed every alternate day.
• There may be burping, flatulence or passing
gas
• Sometimes odor from the breath.
• There may be accompanying loss of appetite.

General measures:
• Drink a warm glass of water early in the morning.
• Eat fiber rich diet at least 10-12g of fiber
daily; it is found in abundance in beans, oats, barley,
apples and citrus fruits.
• At least one or two glasses of fluid should
be taken along with every meal.
• Have steamed vegetables daily as it is, or
blended into a soup form, this provides the necessary
fiber to form the stools.
• Have a banana at breakfast daily. The bigger
variety of banana is preferable for this condition
• Cut down on coffee, milk products.
• Regular walks and exercise helps this control
this condition.

Homoeopathic treatment:
Constipation can be cured by homoeopathic medicines.
Some dietary changes are suggested along with the
medicine. The need for daily laxatives can be drastically
brought down, with the homeopathic medicines. The
treatment is short term, and the condition responds
very well to Homeopathic medicines.

Homoeopathic medicines being mild, with no side effects,
are very effective both for the treatment of children
and the aged.
In cases of constipation due to irritable bowel syndrome,
or an underlying thyroid issue, a complete constitutional
treatment with proper dietary habits is very effective
in cure of this condition.

Dyspepsia is a common condition which refers to
indigestion in the stomach. It is aggravated by
the modern lifestyles of eating out frequently,
irregular sleep patterns, stress, and skipping meals.
While self medications or treatment by home remedies
can help, the chronic or recurrent condition has
to be treated to prevent complications like gastric
ulcers and acid reflux.

Symptoms:
• An upper abdomen discomfort with fullness,
• Early satiety or feeling of satisfaction
with no relation to the usual quantity of food
• Burning
• Bloating
• Belching
• Nausea, retching, or vomiting.
• Heartburn may be present

General measures:
• With mild symptoms, a change in the eating
habits; eating healthier food and eating on time;
and sleep, exercise and destressing can cure the
problem.
• Drink lots of water along with other fluids.
• Eating oily, spicy food and fatty foods
should be reduced
• Avoid coffee
• Reduce Alcohol, smoking

Homoeopathic treatment:
Homoeopathic medicines are mild on the stomach and
will not cause any side effects. As this medicine
takes care of the acute condition it also prevents
the risk of ulcers, or reflux oesophagitis or any
other gastric complications due to recurrent attacks
of dyspepsia. Dyspepsia is treated by planning out
a proper diet along with homoeopathic medicines.

Vomiting is a very common condition. It is not
a disease but a natural protective mechanism of
the body to get rid of some underlying infection.
It is a sign that body is trying to get rid of some
abnormal harmful substance. Nausea is a vague, intensely
disagreeable sensation of sickness or queasiness
that may or may not be followed by vomiting.

Vomiting is the forcible expulsion
of the contents of the stomach. The strongest stimuli
for vomiting are irritation and distension of stomach.
Prolonged vomiting, especially in
infants and elderly people, can be serious since
the loss of fluids can lead to disturbances
in fluid and acid-base balance.
Children are very prone to vomiting as they often
have a sensitive stomach and succumb to infections
very easily. This decreases the appetite and affects
the immunity and growth of the child.

General measures:
Most causes of acute vomiting are mild, self limited,
and require no specific treatment but if its not
brought under control by any household measures
than medicinal intervention is required.
• Have clear liquids and small quantities
of dry food
• Lot of fluid intake should be done to prevent
dehydration
• Spicy and oily food should be avoided
• Tea or coffee should also be stopped till
the condition subsides
• Citrus fruits or juices can be taken
• A lemon can be squeezed with hot milk and
a little quantity can be given sip by sip.

Homoeopathic treatment:
Homoeopathic medicines certainly act very well in
persons having vomiting as a chronic problem. In
this condition the medicines given have to be mild
on the stomach and not increase the acidity; and
here the homeopathic medicines are very useful.
If vomiting is due to some underlying disease than
the disease condition is treated first otherwise
the vomiting may only be temporary relieved.

Homoeopathic medicines have shown best results in
cases of vomiting which are psychogenic (anticipatory
vomiting).
Vomiting during pregnancy has also been effectively
treated by the medicines as they are very mild in
action and are safe for the pregnant woman and the
fetus.

Diarrhea is increased stool frequency (more than
3 bowel movements per day) or watery stools. Frequent
diarrhea can result in dehydration and electrolyte
imbalances.
It can be an indicator for the simplest infection
to a major disease.

Causes:
the causes for this condition are varied, and are
mainly indicators of underlying disease conditions.
Some of the basic causes are; Diet, or change of
food habits; any kind of infection; Stress, anxiety;
Irritable bowel syndrome; Lactose intolerance (milk
allergy).
The cause may also be any underlying disease(scleroderma,
diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism) or a Post surgical
cause.

Loose stools or frequent
diarrhea in children:
The most common cause of this is during teething.
There are frequent stools and greenish in color.
The child may be cranky and irritable. And homoeopathy
gives a very effective remedial measure to cure
this. Replacing the fluids and preventing dehydration
is very important, and the medication is needed
to control the problem.

General measures:
It is seen that most of the problems arise cause
of loss of fluids from the body. So more than medicine
it is necessary that these lost fluids have to be
restored.
• Fluids in the form of tender coconut and
ORS have to be given.
• Till the diarrhea subsides bland food should
be given and spicy food should be avoided.
• Pomegranate juice is advised during this
condition.
• Leafy vegetables like especially spinach
to be avoided.
• Fenugreek seeds have been found very effective
as it has a cooling effect on the stomach.

Homoeopathic treatment:
Homoeopathic medicine cures the chronic diarrhea.
The frequency of diarrhea is first reduced and the
patient starts regaining his strength. The weakness
which might generally follow with the diarrhea is
comparatively reduced. And with that the stools
become normal as the treatment progresses.
In acute cases and in children the results of medication
are very prompt; the medication being combined with
fluid replacement.

Peptic ulcer is a break in the gastric or intestinal
mucosa that arises when the normal mucosal defensive
factors are impaired. They occur more commonly in
men than in women.

Although it can occur in any age
group, duodenal ulcers most commonly occur in age
group of 30 to 55 years, whereas gastric ulcers
in age group of 55 to 70 years. Nowadays because
of the increasing stress factor and the eating habits
of the people (esp. working) the incidence of this
condition is found to be more, and is also seen
in younger people.

Symptoms:
• Pain in the upper abdomen just below the
chest in most of the patients
• The pain is dull, gnawing, aching or “hunger-like”.
• pain is relieved with food or antacids with
a recurrence of pain 2-4hrs later.
• The pain recurs periodically at or before
meal times.
• Nausea and vomiting may occur with this
complaint.

General measures:
• Water intake should be increased
• Spicy and oily foods to be avoided
• Avoid frequent drinking of beverages like
tea or coffee which can worsen the condition
• Fluids like tender coconut, jeera water,
buttermilk and fruit juices should be had regularly.
• Meals should be had on time.

Homoeopathic treatment:
Peptic ulcers are very effectively treated by homoeopathic
medicines. A detailed case history is taken including
the diet of the patient, the habits, stress levels,
the sleeping pattern, and life style etc. all this
is done to analyze the underlying cause and then
according to this treatment is started.

The aim of the treatment would be
to cure this condition and to prevent the recurrence
of any such ulcers. The treatment plan will have
a diet regimen, along with medicines and related
advices concerned with the cause.

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory condition
that involves the mucosal surface of the colon,
resulting in diffuse friability and erosions with
bleeding. There might be periods of symptomatic
flare ups and remissions.

Symptoms:
Diarrhea with blood in stools is the main symptom.
There might be two varieties in the disease mild
to moderate disease and severe disease
In the mild to moderate type, gradual onset of infrequent
diarrhea is seen(less than 5 movements per day)
with intermittent bleeding from the anus and mucus
in the stools.
Stools may be formed too loose in consistency. There
is increased urge to stools which is difficult to
control. Abdominal pain may be present which is
better by passing stools.
In the severe disease: More than 6 to 10 bowel movements
with bleeding per day. Abdominal pain and tenderness
is present, with weakness.

General measures:
• Spicy and oily foods are to be avoided
• Jeera water, tender coconut water and buttermilk
are helpful
• Avoid coffee, soft drinks, and alcohol
• Avoid vegetables like potatoes, tubers and
cabbage.

Homoeopathic treatment:
Ulcerative colitis is very effectively treated with
Homeopathic medicines.
Initially the diarrhea and the bleeding are reduced
bringing down the weakness. The pain is also brought
down simultaneously.

It is the disease where the intestine (colon)
is involved. There may be ulcer formation or fistulas
in the intestines.
The incidence of this disease is increasing due
to the changes in lifestyle and trends.

Symptoms:
There may be variety of symptoms and signs due to
variable involvement of the intestine.
• Diarrhea which might be non-bloody and often
intermittent.
• Crampy pain or steady pain in the right
lower abdomen and around the belly button can be
seen.
• Bloated ness of abdomen after eating with
loud flatus
• Low grade fever with weakness
• Energy loss
• Weight loss

General measures:
• Water or fluid intake of at least 2 lts
per day.
• Spicy and oily foods are to be avoided
• A tender coconut daily is very good for
this condition
• Avoid frequent drinking of beverages like
tea or coffee which can worsen the condition

Homoeopathic treatment:
This condition is very effectively treated in homeopathy.
The symptoms are very well relieved with the medicines.
- The appetite as well as weakness is restored back
to normalcy after the medicine is given. The main
aim of treatment is to treat the condition with
less energy loss or weight loss and regaining the
lost energy back.

In some people, especially in children and older
people, the small intestine fails to produce enough
lactase, which is essential for the digestion of
lactose or milk; this results in a condition called
lactose intolerance.

Symptoms:
The severity of symptoms varies, from relatively
minor to sufficiently serious to require medical
attention.

Bloating, Abdominal cramps, Flatulence
and diarrhea is seen. These are worsened by the
intake of milk, and any diary products like curd,
butter, ghee, cheese etc.

In children there is generally vomiting
after milk, and regurgitations which look like curdled
milk. There may also be recurrent coughs or respiratory
allergic conditions with the lactose intolerance.

Homoeopathic treatment:
Lactose intolerance is very well treated by homoeopathy.
Once a detailed case is taken, the treatment is
started with a constitutional medicine with a regular
follow up; this treatment will remove the allergic
tendency of the person towards the milk or its products.

The homoeopathic medicines also
correct the metabolism and absorption of the digestive
system and clear the lactase deficiency.

In case of children who throw up
milk, homoeopathic medicines are very effective
because they are mild in action, with no side effects.

It is a prolonged disorder characterized by self
induced weight loss, negative perception of body
image, and health problems due to deficiencies.
Patients with such condition have a fixation on
weight control and often, the insistence of having
a bowel movement every day despite a lack of adequate
food intake. They take laxatives in a frequent manner
which worsens the fluid, electrolyte imbalance and
nutritional deficiencies.
This disorder is mostly found in young women

Symptoms:
• Loss of appetite, and very low intake of
food
• Weight loss and Emaciation or becoming very
thin and Lower metabolic basal metabolic rate
• Abnormal patterns of menstruation or Absence
of menses
• The other symptoms are osteoporosis and
depression.

Homoeopathic treatment:
In this condition, more than just a physical involvement,
the cause starts from the mind. The mind has a negative
perception of the body image, for this counseling
is very essential along with medications.
As homoeopathic approach is a holistic, we consider
the psychosomatic aspect and treat them accordingly.
The appetite will also be normalized. In girls having
depression, the depressed state will also be treated.

A disorder that affects young women in which there
is overeating at least twice a week followed by
purging by self induced vomiting, strict dieting
or fasting , vigorous exercise or use of laxatives.
This binge-purge cycle occurs in response to being
overweight, depression, and physiological disorders.

Homoeopathic
treatment:
This condition requires a lot of counseling as there
is a psychological cause to it. A detailed case
history is taken and the treatment is planned, including
Homeopathic medicines and counseling. A regular
follow up is required to cure this condition.

IBS is one of the most common disorder
of digestive system producing a spectrum of symptoms
such as persistent and recurring abdominal pain
associated with passing of motion, change of bowel
habit (diarrhea, constipation, or alternate diarrhea
and constipation), etc. without any apparent cause.
The word syndrome means a group of symptoms. IBS
is a syndrome because it can cause several symptoms
in addition to those mentioned, like cramping, bloating,
gas, frequent urge to pass stools, sensation of
incomplete evacuation etc.

IBS is the disorder of function,
which means that the bowel doesn't work, as it should.
If one visualizes the bowel, it appears perfectly
normal without any inflammation or other structural
changes. In people with IBS, the intestines squeeze
too hard or not hard enough and cause food to move
too quickly or too slowly through the intestines.

Through the years, IBS has been
called by many names--colitis, mucous colitis, spastic
colon, spastic bowel, and functional bowel disease,
irritable colon, and nervous colon. Most of these
terms are inaccurate and refers to understanding
of diseases at that particular time frame. Colitis,
for instance, means inflammation of the large intestine
(colon). IBS, however, does not cause inflammation
of the bowel and should not be confused with another
disorders like ulcerative colitis.

Prevalence
IBS is very common condition across the globe and
it is estimated that around 20% of people suffer
from this condition some time during their life
time. Over 40 million Americans and one third of
the UK population suffer from IBS sometime in life.
It is the single most common reason for which people
seek gastroenterologist’s opinion. The statistics
state that people miss work for IBS and related
disorders more than for anything else, except colds.

IBS though affect people of all
ages and both the sexes; it is more common in young
people; usually in late adolescence or early adulthood.
The condition is almost two to three times common
in females as compared to males.

Nature
of condition
Almost everything about IBS is totally dependent
on the individual patient. For some, IBS may arise
during times of stress or crisis, and then subside
once the stressful event has passed. For others,
IBS strikes seemingly randomly and without warning
and never completely goes away. The duration of
IBS is different for everybody. The symptoms may
wax and wane, being particularly severe at some
times and absent at others.

To sum up, this is a chronic relapsing
condition.

Effect
on lifestyle
IBS can be nothing more than a mild annoyance, completely
debilitating, or anywhere in between. Again, it
depends on the person and how he or she reacts to
it and treats it. IBS can, however, be very painful
and can severely affect a person's quality of life,
and is second only to the common cold as a cause
of absenteeism from work.

IBS
and Stress
The key point is that IBS is strongly related to
emotional stress and strain. Research on the psychosocial
aspects of these disorders has yielded three general
observations:

Positive
points
Interestingly, even though the symptoms of IBS can
be very painful and debilitating in some, it should
be emphasized that this is never a life-threatening
condition. Those afflicted with IBS do not have
any greater chances of developing inflammatory conditions
of bowel like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative
colitis, neither do they pose any higher risk of
having colon cancer. Moreover this disease cannot
be passed to other individuals like some of the
infections may have chance to do so.

Homoeopathic
treatment:
Last but not the least is that with revolutionary
mode of treatment of Homeopathy, IBS can be brought
under control effectively, gently and safely.

This condition requires a lot of
counseling as there is a psychological cause to
it. A detailed case history is taken and the treatment
is planned, including Homeopathic medicines and
counseling. A regular follow up is required to cure
this condition.

Fissure-in-ano (fish’er)
is a condition characterized by a longitudinal crack
or slit (ulcer) in the skin of anus. If the skin
lining of the lower end of the anus gets scratched,
it may break up into a fissure. Fissure-in-ano is
observed in children as well as in adults; however,
it is more common amongst middle-aged adults.

The posterior midline of the anus
is the most common location for fissure due to low
supply of blood in this area. Rarely, it can be
present on the other areas, such as sides of the
anus rather than posterior midline position. Such
fissure may be the manifestation of underlying disease
e.g. Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis etc.

Homoeopathic treatment:
A detailed case history is taken and the treatment
of underlying cause also treated with homoeopathy.
A regular follow up is required to cure this condition.

Jaundice, also known as icterus,
is a symptom or clinical sign, not a disease by
itself. It basically indicates underlying liver
disease. The yellow coloration is caused by an excess
amount of the bile pigment known as bilirubin.
Bilirubin is a product of break down of red blood
cells and is normally processed by the liver and
excreted from the body in bile. When the liver malfunctions,
bilirubin is not excreted and builds up in the body.
Jaundice occurs when excess amounts of bilirubin
circulating in the blood stream causes a yellowish
appearance of the skin and the whites of the eyes.

Causes:
Physiologic jaundice in the newborn is normal in
the first week of life. It is common and unless
associated with an abnormal condition clears without
treatment.
Underlying disease- Obstruction of the bile ducts
(by infection, tumor or gallstones); Hepatitis-
viral or triggered by certain medications; Hemolytic
anemia, malaria; Toxicity - alcoholic liver disease;
Gilbert's syndrome.

Symptoms:
• dark yellow brown urine
• Loss of appetite, severe weakness, vomiting,
and fever may be present
• pale stools and abdominal pain may be present
• yellow hue or colour of the skin due to
the excess pigmentation
• eyes turn yellow initially; later the nail
beds and inside of the mouth turn yellow
• Intense itching of skin
Other symptoms usually depend on the actual cause
of the jaundice. Complications include hepatic failure
and cirrhosis due to destruction of the liver cells
and chronic active hepatitis wherein the jaundice
may persist for several months.

Exercise light to moderate amounts like yoga and
stretching are good. Destress by going for walks
and getting good rest.

Homeopathic treatment:
As the intake of strong medicines can further cause
a strain on the liver, Homeopathic medicines are
excellent for this condition as they are very mild.
The cause of jaundice must be determined before
treatment can be given. The best way to treat jaundice
is to correct the underlying cause. Homeopathic
medicines can also help in improving the functioning
of the liver.

This condition is characterized
by the formation of stones in the gallbladder the
organ for storage of bile which is just below the
liver .
They are more common in women than in men.

Causes:
A hereditary predisposition to formation of stones
can cause this condition.
Obesity or being overweight or Rapid weight loss;
A high carbohydrate diet; Some drugs(medication)
can also increase the risk; Individuals having Chron’s
disease, diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis of liver,
and hepatitis C virus infection

Symptoms:
Most of the time it is asymptomatic but is accidentally
found during an ultrasound of the abdomen.

Some times there might be pain in the right upper
abdomen with the tenderness on the region if touched.
If the stone formation is associated with inflammation
of the gallbladder too than there might be steady
and severe pain with nausea or vomiting and fever.

General measures:
• Drink lots of water to prevent this condition
• Consume low carbohydrate diet.
• Diet should contain high fiber
• A good amount of exercise or physical activity
may help prevent this condition

Homoeopathic treatment:
Gall stones have very good treatment in homoeopathy
except in cases where there is obstruction and surgery
is unavoidable
After a detailed study of the case the treatment
will be started. A regular follow up is needed to
cure this condition.
It is seen that the stones dissolve after medication
slowly and the need for surgery can be avoided